Korean Won Rebounds on Stability Plans

2026-01-21 02:56 By Mariene Camarillo 1 min. read

The South Korean won advanced to around 1,471 per dollar, rebounding sharply from a four-week low after investor sentiment improved on government assurances.

President Lee Jae Myung stated that policymakers expect the won to move back toward the 1,400 level over the next two months, stressing that its recent weakness reflects global market conditions rather than domestic fundamentals alone.

He assured that the government would keep reviewing available tools to curb volatility, while acknowledging that stabilizing the currency would be difficult to achieve through national policies alone.

Adding to positive sentiment, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol on Wednesday announced policy measures aimed at boosting economic growth and reducing disparities.

On the data front, South Korea's exports rose 14.9% year-on-year in the first 20 days of January, driven by a 70.2% surge in semiconductors which remains the country's top export product.



News Stream
South Korean Won Trades Near 2009 Lows
The South Korean won traded around 1,500 per dollar, remaining close to its lowest since March 2009, as hopes for a quick resolution to the Iran war faded, weighing on risk sentiment. In a rare prime-time speech, President Donald Trump gave no clear timeline for ending the Middle East conflict, noting that the US had nearly met its strategic goals in Iran but warning that military operations could intensify over the next two to three weeks. The statement also lifted the US dollar, adding pressure on currencies. Meanwhile, South Korea’s inflation rose to 2.2% in March, above the central bank’s 2% target, highlighting mounting inflationary pressures driven by rising energy costs from the Iran conflict. Earlier this week, Shin Hyun-song, nominee to lead the Bank of Korea, said the central bank should maintain flexible monetary policy to manage these risks but downplayed concerns over the won, noting that market liquidity remains solid.
2026-04-02
South Korean Won Remains Under Pressure
The South Korean won fell to around 1,516, hovering near its weakest levels since 2009, as investors reacted to heightened geopolitical uncertainty ahead of Donald Trump’s scheduled address on the Middle East conflict. Trump indicated that the US could withdraw from Iran relatively quickly while retaining the option for limited strikes, and claimed the US is “better prepared” to handle the economic impact of the conflict. Additional downside pressure came from sustained capital outflows, with heavy net selling by foreign investors, amplifying demand for the greenback and weighing on the currency. The Bank of Korea has signaled readiness to intervene if volatility intensifies, helping to contain further losses. The won is likely to trade in a narrow range in the near term.
2026-04-01
South Korean Won Hits 17-year Low
The South Korean Won touched 1519.00 against the USD, the lowest since March 2009. Over the past 4 weeks, US Dollar South Korean Won gained 4.41%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 3.06%.
2026-03-30